How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades with a File: Step-by-Step

Have you ever wondered how to keep your lawn looking its best? A key factor is the sharpness of your mower’s blades. We’ll guide you through using a file to sharpen them, ensuring your lawn always looks its best.

How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades with a File: Step-by-Step

To sharpen lawn mower blades with a file, first inspect the blades, remove them, and clamp them securely. Then, use a flat file to point each side at the correct angle, filing from the center outwards, and finally, round the edges slightly to prolong life.

Keep reading as we delve into the world of lawn care. Did you know that the sharpness of your mower’s blades can make all the difference? Learn how to use a file to keep them sharp. Join us as we guide you through this process

General Step-by-step guide:

● Step 1. Gather the necessary tools

Using the right tools will help you finish the sharpening much quicker. To do the job, you need the following tools:

• A pair of safety goggles and gloves.
• Wrench set
• A flat file
• A round file
• Clamps
• Piece of wood
• A bench vise to clamp the blades
• Sandpaper
• A sharpening or polishing stone

● Step 2. Inspection of existing lawnmower blades

Before removing and inspecting the blade, you should disconnect the spark plug cables. This will ensure that the engine can not begin to operate unintentionally. You do not want to work on the blades without this safety measure.

Remove the batteries or disconnect the main cable if you have an electric lawnmower. Apply the parking brakes so that the lawnmower stays stationary. Lawnmower blades usually come dull after 30-40 hours of usage, depending on where they are used.

This can be even sooner when you hit solid objects like rocks or metal. When they are ready, this point sharpening will be necessary. Before sharpening the lawnmower blades, the condition should be checked.

– Understanding the Extent of Blade Damage

So you will understand the extent of damage and then decide whether sharpening is enough or if the blades need to be replaced. The lawnmower blades are at the bottom of the lawnmower. That means that to reach them, the mower needs to be tilted.

This will be more difficult for heavy lawnmowers, and a lawnmower table can help. If possible, close the fuel valve (if available) or empty the gas tank to prevent any fuel leaks. When you have access to the blade, check for rough edges of the blade.

Try rotating the blade and see if there is any hindrance offered to the rotation. Make sure to have your safety gloves on while inspecting. Check for severe cracks or the presence of rust. Mark your blade on one side so you know which way to reinstall it.

● Step 3. Remove the center nut of the lawnmower blade carefully and clamp the blade

After you have turned the mower on its side (or upside down), loosen the nut at the center of the blade with a socket wrench. If it is difficult to relieve, spray the nut with some cleaner spray like WD-40 and wait a few minutes.

If the blade rotates while removing the nut, clamp a piece of wood to the lawnmower’s underside with C-clamps. This will keep the blade in place. After removing the nut, take off the blade from the lawnmower body.

Place the blade in a bench vise and tighten it up as much as possible to hold it firmly. The blade comprises two cutting edges on opposite sides of one long piece of metal. You will have to work on each turn by turn.

● Step 4. Sharpen your lawnmower blade with a file

Before using a file, remove all grass, dirt, and debris from the blade with a stiff wire brush. If removing all dirt and debris with the wire brush is difficult, rub the blades with sandpaper. Sharpening your blade with a hand file is not tricky.

Tools like a flat file only cut in the forward stroke, so you must give regular thrusts while keeping the correct angle with the blade’s surface. Mower blades are made from relatively softer steel. You can mostly refine the edges and nicks with fewer than 50 strokes of a clean.

Sharp mill bastard file approximately 10 inches long. By gentle strokes, chip off the rough blade surface, going inside out in regular motion. Maintain the geometry from the corner to the center, keeping the blade profile constant. Repeat the process for the other side of the blade, too.

– The Importance of a Sharp Blade

The blade gets sharpened when the dull black surface gets chipped off to reveal a shinier and smoother surface. Note: Angle and bench grinders are also used and work much more quickly (professionals use them).

However, they’re harder to control, and you might overheat and damage the blade. So, a file is preferred due to the ease of operation and lesser professional experience required.

● Step 5. Check for the Accurate Filing Angle

Always use the file at the correct angle according to what the manufacturer described in the lawnmower user manual. Remember always to use the file along the natural angle. Otherwise, you can remove too much metal. Also, rub the file from the blade’s center towards the tip.

In this way, you get a sharp tip and avoid any chances of creating cracks. Gives a few pushes using a round file at the blade edge periphery. This will round the pointed tips to some extent. This particular step is crucial to prolong the blade’s life.

If the tips are too short, they will get damaged too soon. You can use the round file along the blade length, shaping the cutting edge. You can use a clean cloth with a cleaner spray to polish the blades.

● Step 6. Balance the blade and fix it back

The rotating blade must be perfectly balanced for the machine and the user’s safety. You can check the balance by hanging the blade on the nail on the wall horizontally. Let the blade depend on the support, and notice that both sides should turn equally. File the heavier end if it is lower. This step prevents any vibration and noise from the machine.

Fix the blade back by applying grease to the central nut, too. Check if the blades are rotating freely with no obstructions. Reconnect the spark plug and start the mower. Let it run for a while, and check if you notice any strange sounds. If such is the case, take it to an expert. Otherwise, you are ready to go.

Frequently asked questions

1. How are the lawnmower blades threaded?

Most lawn mower blades are reversely threaded, which helps them secure on the engine’s driveshaft. This ensures that the blade rotates while the cutting does not loosen. Instead, it keeps the connection tightened by the nut.

2. Can a mower blade be too sharp?

Mower blades should be aggressively sharp but not as sharp as a razor’s edge. You should be able to touch the blade without getting cut. Additionally, lawnmower blades that are too sharp get duller and faster, resulting in sharpening more frequently and shorter blade life.

3. Is it dangerous to sharpen the lawnmower’s blade by hand?

No, one can easily clean and sharpen the lawnmower’s blade by hand. You only need to wear proper safety gloves and carefully remove the blade from the lawnmower.

Clean the blades with a sandpaper or wire brush. More caution is to be taken when the blades are reinstalled, as they will be sharper at that time compared to when they are removed.

Remarks

An evenly cut grass is every garden lawn mower’s obsession. A dull blade of the lawn mower proves an obstruction to achieving this. Before you start, be sure to wear safety glasses for protection. First, clean the blade of any grass or dirt.

You can easily sharpen your lawnmower blades using a bastard-cut mill file. The file chips off the rough surface, excavating the sharper metal from the blade. This is one way to sharpen the blade. Alternatively, you can use a lawn mower blade sharpener or a power drill.

• Checking the Blade’s Balance After Sharpening

Remember to check the blade’s balance after sharpening. If you’re using an electric mower, remove any plastic components before starting. By following this user-friendly guide, you can easily regulate your mowing experience through proper precautions.

When mowing, the sharpened blade should smoothly cut through the grass without leaving out patches of irregular grass. Be sure to hold the mower properly and always wear safety gear.

Remember, the tools you use can significantly affect the quality of your lawn. So, always keep them in good condition, especially along the blade’s cutting edge.